Rock Valley-Valley Conference Preview - Boys Basketball

Below is a boys basketball conference preview. Included in each preview is the previous year standings, review, returning all-conference players, projected standings with writeup, a sleeper team, top players to watch, conference break out candidates.

Head Coach: Noah Phillips - 3rd year (31 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Cam Polvi (Transfer), Brayden Phillips, Ethan Callahan, Mason Beaver
Returners: Connor Sickler, 6-7, sr; Brayden Golabowski, 6-4, sr; Jaylen Hoffman, 6-1, jr; Mason Phillips, 6-0, soph; Cole Pettijohn, 6-1, jr; Carter Swendrowski, 5-10, sr; Drew Chapman, 5-7, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Dominick Odell, 6-1, soph
Breakout Candidate: Mason Phillips

Outlook: Four starters are not back with this East Troy team as three graduated and Cam Polvi transferred out of state. However, East Troy is still going to have a strong roster coming into 2026-27. Seniors Connor Sickler and Brayden Golabowski are solid all-around players while sophomores Mason Phillips and Dominick Odell are both primed for break out seasons for Coach Phillips. The size and versatility of Sickler and Golabowski give the Trojans a trump card in terms of having two large forwards that can majorly impact games.

Head Coach: Brian Bassett - 11th year (157 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Logan Taylor, Mekhi Brown, Marcus Ott, Miles Versnik, William Keehn
Returners: Drew Monroe, 5-11, sr; Graysan Bartholf, 5-11, sr; Kamrin Gerber-Reamer, 6-1, sr; Lukas Gerber, 6-1, sr; Ryan Roehlli, 6-1, sr; Lucas Bartels, 5-11, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Kilian Wild, jr, 6-5; Chase Huschitt, 6-0, jr; Kingston Stefenel-Turner, Brody Schindler, Asher Cook, jr
Breakout Candidate: Kamrin Gerber-Reamer

Outlook: Monroe graduated its top three scorers and four of its top five from a season ago. Head coach Brian Bassett has done a good job of reloading and retooling in years past however, and I’d expect more of the same here in 2026-27. Kam Gerber-Reamer and Graysan Bartholf are a pair of experienced senior guards that will be relied upon to lead a group with some new faces. Quickness will be key for the Cheesemakers in creating chaos on the defensive side while also generating points in transition.

Head Coach: Todd Pyszora - 8th year (42 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Andrew Maas, Karston Soellner,
Returners: Haaken Hovestol, 5-11, sr; Braedyn McKean, 5-9, sr; Gavin Green, 5-10, sr; Brady Taylor, 5-10, sr; Deven Chambers, 6-0, soph, Hunter Hovestol, 6-1, soph, Daniel O’Grady, 6-3, sr; Evan Doerksen, 6-1, sr; Colton Baumeister, 6-5, soph
Newcomers/New Contributors: Kaden Garbe, 6-3, sr; Quintin Arizola, 6-1, sr; George Hetzel, 5-11, jr; Logan Becker, 5-11, jr
Breakout Candidate: Daniel O’Grady

Outlook: Delavan could surprise teams in the conference this season as a majority of the squad is back that won seven games a season ago. Senior guards Haaken Hovestol and Braedyn McKean were both all-league players a season ago and can put constant pressure on opposing defenses with their approach downhill. Sophomores Deven Chambers, Hunter Hovestol, and Colton Baumeister got great experience as freshman and will be one more year mature and skilled which will positively effect their impact on the varsity court.

Head Coach: Clayton Morrison - 3rd year (11 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Bentley Wagner, Tyler Altermatt, Gavin Berge, Brady Jacobson
Returners: Bradyn Wilde, 5-11, soph; Caden Schroedl, 5-10, jr; Gabe Weinbrenner, 5-11, soph; Cade Theisen, 5-11, jr; Tanner Bergey, 6-7, jr; Parker Murphy, 6-0, jr; Adrian Rowan, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Brandin Nelson, Adrian Rowen, Ben Weber, frosh
Breakout Candidate: Bradyn Wilde

Outlook: Jefferson will lose two starters from a season ago, but junior Tanner Bergey is one of the better athletes in the entire conference and is going to be a handful for opposing teams as he’s gotten stronger. On top of Bergey a plethora of underclassmen saw varsity minutes a season ago including juniors Caden Schroedl, Cade Theisen, and Parker Murphy and sophomores Bradyn Wilde and Gabe Weinbrenner. There is still a lot of youth in this team with just a pair of seniors listed on the returning roster.

Head Coach: Michael McCabe - 4th year (27 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Casey Lyon, Matthew Carollo
Returners: Aaron Garcia, 5-11, sr; Cason Boudreau, 5-10, soph; Connor Brummeyer, 5-10, sr; Colton Hilgen, 6-3, jr; Evan Amundson, 6-2, sr; Jacek Egnoski, 6-1, sr; Marcus Roselle, 6-0, sr; Tyler Carollo, 6-3, soph; Anjay Magaña, 6-1, sr; Aaron Garcia, 5-11, sr; Ty Bucholtz, 6-0, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors:
Breakout Candidate: Aaron Garcia

Outlook: Losing the top two scorers that averaged a combined 39 points per game will be difficult to replace for head coach Michael McCabe. There is a lot of players back for the Whippets that have varsity experience including Aaron Garcia, Evan Amundson, and Ty Bucholtz. However only one of those returners averaged over four points per game. Finding that consistency in scoring the basketball will be the biggest task for Coach McCabe’s group in 2026-27.

Delavan-Darien could player spoiler for one of the top two projected teams in the standings this upcoming season. The Comets have two very good guards that give them an edge and can lead them to scoring wins over Monroe or East Troy.

Tanner Bergey, jr, Jefferson
Bergey has been a force for Jefferson over the past two seasons and was the leading scorer for the Eagles last year with more than 15 points per game. He earned second team all-conference honors. He’s a deterrent on the defensive side, versatile offensively, and ever growing in his strength and tool bag.

Kamrin Gerber-Reamer, sr, Monroe
Gerber-Reamer is poised for a big year as he’s the lone returning starter for the Cheesemakers. As a junior he averaged 7.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while being named a Rock Valley-Valley honorable mention all-conference selection.

Brayden Golabwoski, sr, East Troy
A big guard, Golabowski is relentless in his attack of the rim. As a junior he averaged 7.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Golabowski is a matchup nightmare for smaller defenders, as he uses his strength and physicality well when getting to his spot on the court.

Haaken Hovestol, sr, Delavan-Darien
Hovestol is the lone returning first team all-league player in the Rock Valley-Valley this season. As a junior he averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. The 6-0 lead guard can equally effect the game with his ability to score the ball and facilitate to his teammates.

Braedyn McKean, sr, Delavan-Darien
Mckean forms that solid backcourt duo with Hovestol for Delavan and is one of just a handful of players returning in the conference that was an all-conference selection. As a junior he averaged 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game and earned honorable mention honors.

Connor Sickler, sr, East Troy
Sickler is a 6-7 forward that plays near the rim, in transition, or out on the perimeter comfortably. He was an honorable mention all-conference selection a season ago after averaging 8.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. A big breakout year is in store for the senior Trojan.